Lead Us to the Well

“So they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and what is more, he even drew the water for us and watered the flock.””

(Exodus 2:19 NAS95S)

Observation:  This one verse contains a powerful picture of Moses' purpose and destiny.  He was to be both a deliverer and servant to God's people;  A protector and provider.  He was a prince and a pauper, a leader and a follower.  He led under the instruction of His leader.  And He served with the heart of His master... a heart for the people.  A heart that sees our infirmities and afflictions.  

This Moses, this one who had been drawn from the water, this one who would be an agent of God to draw His people Israel from the water, this Moses met a woman at the well (see The Pentateuch as Narrative, p. 243-244, by John H. Sailhamer).  He met a woman at the well just as Abraham's servant Eliezar met Isaac's future wife Rebekkah at the well, and just as Jacob met Rachel at the well, and Judah met Tamar “at the springs” (the meaning of the Hebrew place name Enaim), and just as Christ met the Samaritan woman at the well.  The details are not all the same, but like all of these patriarchs and his Lord who would follow after him, Moses found God's provision at the well.  And what's more, He was a part of God's provision.

Thus you might say that the well is where we are provided for and we provide.  Woman is God's provision for a man and yet also his opportunity to provide.  What God gives us in life is the opportunity to provide.  What He gives us is a purpose for existence and a reason to live.  Salvation is not about luxury and lounging, it is about an invitation into a life of loving service.  A service that begins at the well, and springs up into a family, and flows out into the world.

As we think of these well encounters we must not forget the Christ.  We find His story in John 4: 

“There *came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus *said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman *said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She *said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? “You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.””

(John 4:7-14 NAS95S) 

Unlike the patriarchs and Moses, Jesus did not marry a woman of the well, but He did provide for her.  And in a spiritual sense He was a spouse to her.  The ultimate spouse:

““For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.”

(Isaiah 54:5 NAS95S)

Christ has come for every woman who has ever come to the well thirsty and dry.  He has come as protector and provider.  As husband and maker.  And this Jesus who meets broken women looking for living water, can also lead broken men to godly wives.  As He led Moses the murderor to a godly woman, and Jacob the deceiver, and Isaac the lonely, so He can lead all who are looking for a godly wife, to the woman of their dreams.

Application:  I thank God for giving me a woman of the well.  A woman who drinks deep of the wellsprings of my Savior.  A woman who has committed herself to fellowshipping with another lover.  I will never be jealous of her time with Him.  I will never regret one moment she spends in His presence.  For it is He, who has joined us together, and a chord of three strands is not easily broken.   Yes, the one who had to pass through Samaria has brought us to the well of His grace, that as we drink deep of the limitless reserves of His love, we might find our marriage healthy and strong; rooted in the redemption songs of all who have gone before; rooted in the same faith of all who have ever been led to the well by the One who met the Samaritan woman on that hot, dry, and dusty day.  

Prayer:  Lord Jesus I pray for my marriage and the marriages of all who are thirsty for living water.  Jesus let us not forget our first love.  And if we still haven't found our first love, lead us to it.  Let this first love (see 1 John 4:19) bind us together with our spouse; the love You shed for us on Calvary's cross.  The love that poured forth from Your side as water and wine.  May our marriage be happy and fulfilled because of the living waters You promise us, and may it be pure and holy because of the power of Your blood.  O Holy Christ, the One who has led us to the well, keep us close to this place.  And let us ever be satisfied with the living waters You provide.  Let our marriage be washed and filled with Your power and purpose.  Amen!

The Rational of Relationship

"For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. But one has testified somewhere, saying, "What is man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him? "You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And have appointed him over the works of Your hands; You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise." And again, "I will put My trust in Him." And again, "Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me." 

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."

(Hebrews 2:5-18 NAS95S)

Observation:  Son of God.  Son of Man.  Divine.  Human.  The everlasting one stepping into time.  The Father of Creation becoming the Son of creation.  How can it be?  How could he who made us become subject to us and still be our Sovereign?  And yet He was, He is, and always will be.  He to whom all things are subject, subjected Himself to a lowly state... to the existence of a slave and servant.  He was at the mercy of His mother, His father, His brothers and sisters, even His enemies.  He let us raise him, praise him, persecute and kill Him.   He choose to be totally at our mercy that we might be totally at His.  Yes, in making Himself subject to the mercy and whims of sinful man, He made it possible for us to be subject to the mercy and wisdom of all knowing, all loving, and always faithful Father in Heaven.

Application:  I cannot understand this Christ child... I cannot comprehend this mysterious and powerful plan of salvation.  But I accept it.  I wonder at it.  I want to fall on my knees and cry Holy.  Holy is the Lamb, Worthy is He who was slain for my sin, for my selfishness, for my pride and greed.  Worthy is He to receive all glory, honor, power, and dominion; now and forevermore.  

Even as I say I cannot understand, I realize I really can.  For the word understand is a conjunction of two words... under meaning not the typical beneath, but instead between or among, and the word stand meaning to exist or be present.  

So basically understanding can mean to be with.  And that is how we understand God... Not by explanation... But by association.  Not by clever words but by the word incarnate; the word made flesh; the word who dwelt among us that we might behold the glory of our Father.  We know him through relationship not through rationality... At least the rationality of this world which says I must quantify, clarify, and formulate.  

No, we know God through the rational of relationship.  A rational of the heart.  A rational that comes from experiencing His faithfulness, His goodness, His grace, and His provision in our lives.  We understand when He stands with us.  We come to know as we see that we are known by Him.

Prayer:  O Lord Jesus...

"Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word."

(Psalms 119:169 NAS95S) 

Understanding comes as You stand with me.  As Your presence permeates my being.  Dwell in me Jesus.  Be with me.  Let Your Spirit Rest upon me.  This is my prayer.